Wichita eagle., 1887-11-16
OUR INLAND DEFENSE
General Sheridan's Report Of the
Condition Of the Army---24.236
Men, Including Scouts.
improvements of the Different Posts
1.-The General Does Not Be-
lieye, With Gen. Miles.
That the San Carlos Indians Sh0nld be
Separated Into Numerous Camps
About 100 Miles Apart,
The Wells Fargo Express Company Secure
the Full Right Over all Branches
of the A. 7. l. S. T.


WASHINGTON, Nov. 15.-Lieut. General
p. II. Sheridan has presented his annual
report to the secretary of war. From the
report it appears that at the date OF the
last consolidated returns the army con-
sisted Of 300 officers and u, $50 men, IN
Guiding Indian scouts The lieutenant
general briefly sums up the condition OF
the various divisions of the army. and OF
the division of Missouri says, that while 1t
has been free from Indian hostilities OF
any magnitude many operations OF mi
nor nature have been rendered neces-
sary Troops have been continually occu-
pied in patrolling the Oklahoma country,
and have been successful in keeping intrud-
ers out of that region. The gradual spread
of railroads throughout the territory, can,
however, ultimately have but one effect,
and General Sheridan is now of the opinion
that congress may we'll consider the advis-
ability of opening up portions at least of
this country to settlement. The general
reviews the difficulties arising in August
last in Colorado, near the tUncompahagre
Indian reservation, and their determine
ton through the intercession of Lieutenant
Burnett with a small detachment of the
Ninth cavalry He also touches upon the
recent trouble occurring on the Crow In
dian reservation in Montana, and its settle
ment by General Ruger. In order to qiet the
restless young men, among the Crow In
dians, the reports says General Kruger has
been authorized TO enlist about thirty OF
their number as scouts and take them to
Fort Custer. The Crows have always been
friendly, and make 1t a boast that they
have never killed a white man, aud it
would be great pity if anything should
of so long standing, and General Sheri-
dan is confident that General Kruger will
be able to effect permanent
settlement that will be satisfactory
to the Crows as well as to the gov
erment. In regard TO the concentration
of the army in the larger posts, the report
says that the work on the new post at Den
Yer, where it is proposed to place ten com
panies, will shortly be commenced; that at
San Antonio has been progressing favor
ably durine the year; the ground for the
new post near Chicago will pass into pos
session of the government at an early day,
and at Fort Smelling, both the reservation
and other attendant conditions are favor
able for the establishment of a large garri-
son, and only some additional buildings
are required for their accommodation. The
reconstruction of Fort Riley has been active
~ prosecuted during the yea, but before it
can be completed additional apprOpria-
tlOn5 viii be necessary. No other post IN
the country possesses such advantages for
the location of a school of practice for light
batteries end for cavalry exercises, and
since its establishment for these purposes
has been authorized by congress, it has
been deemed but true economy to erect
only buildings of a substantial and per-
manent nature, so that with the new
equipment of breeeh loading steel field
guns. metal carriages and improved
harness now being manufactured by the
ordnance department, the service will
probably derive marked benefit from this
station for a number Of years. General
Sheridan does not look favOrably upon the
proposition of General Miles to sepa-
rate the Indians now at San
Carlos into several camps about 100
or 200 miles apart, deeming it for the best
interest of the territory of Arizona, and of
the Indians themselves, that they should
be kept in one body, and the duties neces-
sary for their control concentrated at a
single point. Divided into different bands
he says each location might become the
center of disturbances and the difficulties
of their supervision would be greatly in
creased.
The general expresses regret at the fact
of a slight increase in the number of de
serters during the year. and sees no remedy
for it. lie looks favorably upon the new
plan of monthly payments. The recruit
ing service, he says, has enlisted an in
creased number of good men. The disci-
pline is good. The artillery, infantry and
cavalry schools are reported to be doing
good work, and the army has
improved in rifle practice The
general renews his recommendation that
5000 men be added to the army and that
two ma jorS and two captains be added to
each infantry regiment. He recommends
the appointment Of board 20 frame re
revised tactics to meet the changes in
handling men occasioned by changes in
the methods of war. The general urges,
as a measure highly promotive Of efficiency.
the retirement of about eighty old officers,
who are unfit for duty, but whose reten-
ton on the active list details additional
work on men who are at the same time
from promotion thereby
SOn the question OF arms the report says
the time Is near at hand when the army
should be supplied with machine guns.
and says that unless an effective arm of
this character is developed By an American
very soon, the government
should adopt SOME foreign repeating gun.
On the subject OF our coast defenses. the
general says that they have continued to
6eteriorate during the year that adequate
deienseS must be the work of years and |
At a heavy outlay. In the mean
time. he says, The dynamite gun expert !
ments show valuable qualities and good !
results within their range and that expert |
menting with a View 10 their further de |
velopment should be encouraged. General /
Sheridan concludes his report by a strong |
recommendation that the state guards be !
encouraged and aided by the national |
government.